Golf practice device



June 14, 1955 KIN s. CHONG 2,710,757

GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Filed May 4, 1953 0 ire c I ion Green Kin $.6hong 5 INVENTOR.

,2 Z BY United States Patent GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Kin S. Chong, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,840

1 Claim. (Cl. 273183) This invention relates to what is believed to be a unique but nevertheless practical golfers special accessory through the medium of which a user may systematically and elfectively practice the art of striking and advancing a grounded golf ball on a golf course fairway, so-called driving range or elsewhere, using any one of the regulation golf clubs in the act of so doing, whereby and with repeated efforts he can gradually train himself to perfect a satisfactory swing and thus to become a desirably good golfer.

In an effort to promote effective play and to solve the problem of assisting the aspiring and would-be golfer, countless practicing and training devices have been brought into use by those skilled in this special line of endeavor involving, of course, ideas and techniques based on various phases of the game. The instant concept has to do with a simple contrivance or device which is designed primarily for practice by beginners but which may, of course, prove to be a helpful aid to the advanced player trying to break a temporarily acquired bad habit of hooking, slicing or his inability to drive accurately toward a given target, usually the green. Then, too, it is intended to enable the user to estimate the direction and location of the given target in order to predetermine his aim, all in a non-confusing manner to appreciably assist him in decisively and accurately clouting, driving or otherwise striking the ball to travel in the intended line of flight.

With the above general objectives in mind, a device is provided for spotting the ball and conveniently establishing ones desired stance in a manner to find his bearings relative to the lie of the ball, said device being characterized by a pointer, serving as a line of flight indicator, and a relatively stationary surface or guide spaced from and at right angles to the direction or line of the indicating pointer, whereby when the face of the club head is properly lined up and thus suitably squared, it is then in its correct position to effectively address the ball.

More specifically, the invention appertains to a golfers practice device characterized broadly by a base adapted to rest on the turf and having indicator means at its forward end designed to be manually regulated and pointed and lined up with the green or other target, means for encircling and spotting the ball in a position relative to said indicator means, and companion guide means at the rearward end of the base, which is a sort of a straight edge and is perpendicular to the ball-holding and spotting means, and is thus aptly adapted to accommodate the face of the club, whereby said face may be thus squared in relation to the ball and the indicator means to aid the user, in making an adjustment of the eyes to the target, said base being lifted and removed from the ball in order that the golfer may then exercise better directional control of the ball.

In carrying out a preferred specific embodiment of the invention, I utilize a hollow base embodying a flat plate having a rectangular central and rear-end portion with depending vertical marginal walls characterized by a rear guide wall and spaced parallel side walls, the forward end of said base being V-shaped in plan with its vertex situated centrally between said side walls, said plate portion having a circular hole adjacent to said guide wall and properly lined up with said vertex and guide wall.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the golf club head line-up and squaring device, constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and illustrating the general manner in which it is used.

Figure 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view of the device, with the ball and club appearing in phantom lines.

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the vertical line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The hollow base is denoted generally by the numeral 4, and it is constructed of suitable light-weight sheet material and is characterized by a substantially flat horizontal plate portion 6. It will be noted that the major portion of the base is rectangular in plan and in actual practice the over-all base will be approximately one foot or so in length. The base may be said to be shallow and the vertical height approximately one-half the diameter of the golf ball A. It is adapted to rest on the turf, and when in position it frames the golf ball A. Whereas the principal portion of the base is rectangular in plan, the forward portion thereof is V-shaped in plan. The base is provided with depending vertical marginal walls, and the forward portions 88 converge and merge with the centralized vertex 10. This vertex constitutes the aforementioned means referred to either as a pointer, indicator, or the like. It is intended to be set to point in the direction of the green or other target, as is obvious. There are space-parallel longitudinal side-walls 1212 (see Figure 3) and these are joined at right angles with the transverse rear straight across wall 14. The latter provides a relatively stationary guide for the face of the head B of the conventional golf club C. Adjacent to this is the circular hole or opening 16, which encircles and properly spots the golf ball. This hole is adjacent to the guide wall 14 as illustrated.

The device is quite simple, and in using it, the user merely sets the golf ball on the ground and fits the base thereover in the manner illustrated in the drawing. When the device and golf ball are in cooperating relationship the golf ball is encircled and protrudes through the hole and above the plane of the plate portion, where the upper half portion is clearly visible. Now the device is manually regulated, or otherwise adjusted, so that the pointed end or indicator 10 points in a line with the intended flight of the ball, that is, in a direction toward the green or other target. The head of the club, whichever club is to be used, is now placed against the guide wall 14 (Fig. 1) and actually in contact with said wall and is rested on the ground in preparation for the shot. Then the device, or base as above designated, is lifted up by hand and leaving the ball where it was spotted and the club head is allowed to stay put in which position it is properly squared in relation to the ball which is to be struck. The device, as already pointed out, enables the user to determine the line of flight, the proper face position of the club in relation to the ball, and is able to achieve the advantageous results already herein described. The device is used generally along the fairways and practice has shown that it is a genuine helping aid when employed close to the greens and especially around the apron portion of the green.

Although the device is primarily intended for use along the fairways and in conjunction with the Woods and irons, it is obvious that it might be employed to some advantage in practicing putting.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope ii" of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

For use in enabling a golfer to practice the art of squaring the face of a golf club in relation to a spotted golf all, a training and aiming device which is adapted 17. 1

However, 1

tral and rear end portion and a complemental forward portion V-shaped in plan with its apex in line with the longitudinal axial center portion of the plate, said plate having a rear transverse depending vertical wall and a pair of right angularly disposed spaced parallel longitudinal side walls, all of said walls being of the same vertical height adapted to rest on the turf to position the plate in an elevated plane above the turf, that portion of the plate adjacent said rear Wall having an opening therein of a diameter to completely encircle a standard golf ball so that when the base is placed On the turf with the golf ball encircled, the upper half portion of the ball protrudes through and beyond said hole, said hole being located midway between the side walls in which position it is thus centered and properly lined up with said apex.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,874,873 Boye Aug. 30, 1932 2,031,525 Clarke Feb. 18, 1936 2,072,688 Rose Mar. 2, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 325,149 Great Britain A. D. 1930 

